Automatic stop for phonographs



July 10, 1923. 1,463,1956

' G. L..SCHUETZ AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS F iled Sept. 16. 1921 a Sheets-Sheet 1 TIQ. 1

INVENTOR. 650,665 A. .ScHz/irz.

B Y Z 9 ITTORNEYZuS July 10, 1923.

LWWW G. L. SCHUETZ AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Sept. 16. 1921 4 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR. 660 866 1.. 50140522. BY

A TTORNEYS LGMBSQ) G- L. SCHUETZ AUTOMATIC STOP FOIR PHONOGRAPHS July 10, 1923,

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*aql 5 ATTORNEYS July 10, 1923. I IlAfiIWSfDJ G. L. SCHUETZ AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Sept. 16 1921 4 smu -Sheet 4 I N V EN TOR. 650a L. 56 U6 rz V phonograph stop for stopping the further Patented July 10, 1923.

PTE I T OFF 1 11.1?

GEORGE L. SCHU'ETZ, OF ZIOINSVILLE, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Application filed September 16, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE L. Sonunrz, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Zionsville, county of Boone, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Automatic Stop for Phonographs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description there of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to an automatic operation of the record when the end thereof has been reached by the needle.

The main feature of the invention resides in the means for throwing a brake or stop when the needle reaches the end of the thereof. By means of this arrangement thetone arm and needle are ready for immediate return to the starting position.

The full nature ofthe invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a phonograph table showing the mechanism in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the tone arm and table with associated parts, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the stop mechanism in inoperative position. Fig. 1 is the same as Fig. 3 showing the stop mechanism in operative position. Fig. 5 is a modified form showing the same plan view illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the table, tone arm and associated parts, taken on the line 66 of ig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line Serial No. 501,152.

7--'? of Fig. 5 showing the tone arm in starting position. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of the actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 7 in playing position. Fig. 9 is the same as Fig. 8 showing the actuating mechanism in operative position for actuating the stop after the end of the record has been reached.

In the drawings there is shown a table 10 of a phonograph upon which is mounted a revolving disk 11 or turn table for supporting the playing record 12. Said disk is supported and driven from the usual motor through a shaft 13 which is provided with a pinion 14. The pinion 1 1 is positioned between the table and revolving disk so as: to engage the gear 15 which is revolvably mounted upon the spindle 16 secured upon the upper side of the table 10. Connected with the gear 15 so as to revolve there-with, there is a sprocket wheel 17 arranged to drive the sprocket chain 18. The sprocket wheel 17 is mounted on a projection of said gear and driven thereby in a counterclockwise direction by the ball clutch 19, said clutch permitting the free movement of the chain at a greater speed. The chain 18 is carried upon the idler sprockets 20 and 21, and is provided with outwardly projecting fingers 22, said fingers being rigidly secured to the upper plate of each link, and adapted to ride over a guide plate 23, the edge of which said chain engages as it passes between the idler sprockets 20 and 21 so as to give a proper curve to said chain, having a radius with its center at the pivotal point of the tone arm.

The tone'arm 24 is pivotally mounted in the usual way to the table 10 at the point 25 so as to swing radially about said point as the needle is carried across the surface of the disk. The usual reproducer diaphragm or sound box is secured to the sound box tube 27, which is pivotally mounted on the end of the elbow 28, said box carrying the usual sound reproducing needle 29 adapted to engage the grooves of the record 12.

Pivotally mounted upon the under side of the elbow 28, there is an elevating arm 30 in position to have its free end engage the under side of the sound box 26. Said arm 30 is rigidly connected with a lever 31 which extends rearwardly under the tone arm 24 and is secured to the trip lever 32. The trip lever 32 is provided with a projection which extends through the slot in the downwardly extending plunger tube 3%, said tube being rigidly secured to the under side of the tone arm. Mounted within said tube, there is a plunger 35 which is normally maintained in operative position shown in Fig. at by a spiral spring 36 also mounted within said tube between the top of the plunger 35 and the top of the tube. The trip lever 32, extending through said slot, is secured to the plunger 35 and is provided with a latch arm 37 having a head 33 adapted toengage a notch formed in the side of said tube for maintaining the plungor 35 in inoperative position against the tension of said spring, as shown in Fig. 3. The

free end of the trip lever extends clownwardly adjacent the table 10 and laterally in position to be engaged by the fingers 22 on the chain 18.

Immediately below the plunger 35, there is a lever 38 provided with a plate 39 which the plunger will strike when released and forced downwardly by the spring 33. One end of the lever 38 is provided with a pin 40 which extends through the slot ii in the elevating block 58, and the other end of said lever extends through a guide member 42 and is maintained in elevated position by the spring 43, as shown in Fig. 3. Immediately below said lever intermediate its ends, there is a friction disk at secured to a spindle a5 extending downwardly through the table 10, on the lower end of which there is a sprocket wheel -16 arranged to be driven by the sprocket chain 4:? from the sprocket wheel 48, which is fixedly secured upon the spindle 13 and driven from the source of power which drives the turn table.

The brake or stop-actuating means comprises a bell crank lever 57 having one free end extending adjacent and at substantially right angles to the free end of the lever 38, as shown in Fig. 1. Said lever is pivoted on the table 10 at 56 and is arranged so that its other free end engages the latching member 49 which is pivoted to the table at 50. Said latching member when in normal position engages a notch upon the plate 51 which is pivoted to the table at 52. Said plate is provided with an integral manually operated handle 53 and a brake shoe 5%, which is so positioned as to frictionally engage the inner periphery of the downwardly extending peripheral flange upon the turn table. For yieldingly forcing said brake into operative position for stopping the turn table, there is a tension spring 55 having one end secured to said brake and the other end to the latch 4:9.

1 The operation of the braking mechanism is asfollows: The chain 18 is geared down to a speed equal to the traveling speed of the tone arm. W hen the machine is put in operation, the tone arm is moved across the face of the record by the needle engaging in the grooves thereof. This speed is followed by the chain 18, the trip lever traveling with the tone arm between adjacent projections 22, since said tone arm and chain are traveling atthe same speed. Upon the slowing down of the tone arm when the needle reaches the last groove of the record, since the chain proceeds at the same speed the trip lever speed is decreased. The following projection 22 will engage the trip lever and cause it to fulcrum about its pivot point and disengage the notch in the plunger tube 34:. This releases the plunger 35 upon which said trip lever is pivotally mounted and permits it to be forced down wardly by the spring 36 into engagement with the lever 38. At the same time the free end of the bell crank lever 31 is drawn down so as to cause the opposite end 30 to be elevated and lift the sound box 26 and needle 29 from the record. By so elevat ing the needle from the record, the tone arm is free to continue in its movement and is carried toward the center of the record by the projections 22 of said chain until said chain passes around the idler sprocket 21, thereby permitting disengagement of the trip lever and leaving the tone arm extending toward the center of said record. Upon the plunger 35 striking the lever 38, it is forced downwardly into the position shown in Fig. l, against the tension of the spring 43. causes its frictional engagement with the revolving friction disk A l, which moves it forward into engagement with the bell crank lever 57. This engagement with said bell crank lever operates to move the latch 49 about its pivot point against the tension of the spring 55, whereby the notch on the plate 51 is disengaged. The tension of the spring 55, after the disengagement of said notch, causes said plate to turn about its pivot point 52 and move the brake shoe 54c into frictional engagement with the inner surface of the peripheral flange of the turn table 11, thereby causing said turn table to cease its operation.

The machine having been thus automatically stopped after the needle passes the last groove, may be again operated by manually swinging the tone arm in the opposite direction, so that the needle is over the starting point. This may be readily done inasmuch as the needle is in elevated position out of engagement with the record. The trip lever 32 is arranged to drop below the projections 22 when the plunger 35 is released so as to be out of further engagement with said chain, the chain will be thus disengaged.

Upon reaching the starting point, the needle is again automatically dropped upon This position of said leverv the record and the parts placed in opposition to be again operated by means of the block 58, which is provided with an lnchned surface positioned so as to be engaged by the released plunger 35. By means of the return movement of the tone arm and the engagement with the block 58 by said plunger, it is forced upwardly against the spring 36 until the latch 37 engages in the notch provided in the tube 34, Such upward movement operates the bell crank levers 30 and 31 so as to release the sound box 26 and causes it to drop down in position for permitting the needle to again engage the record. If the records are of different size, with the smaller size records, the sound box 26 may be manually turned upwardly in the usual manner until ready to again be set in playing position. However, this would not affect the mechanism.

Upon the machine being stopped during the return of the tone arm to playing position, the brake handle 53 is operated to release the brake shoe 5 1 and cause the latch 19 to re-engage the notch in the plate 51. This will return the bell crank lever 57 to its original position and the lever 38 will be returned to its position by the movement of the lever 57 and the spring 43.

Either a brake shoe 4A may be used for frictionally engaging the surface of the turn table, or a positive stop may be similarly used for engagement with notches or projections provided for that purpose in the turn table. In event the positive stop is used, the driving mechanism of the machine will be protected from sudden stopping and the consequent strain by the slippage between the turn table and the driving shaft of the motor.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, there is provided a push rod 138 in position to engage the bell crank lever 57 said push rod extending through a guide member 1 1-2. The upper side of said push rod is provided with a plurality of teeth or notches 60 adapted to be engaged by the head 61 of the trip lever 62, which is fulcrumed on a sliding collar 63 which is slidably mounted upon said rod. The end of the lever 62 opposite the head 61 is provided with a head 6& having a downwardly projecting portion arranged to ride upon the surface of the rod 138 for limiting the movement of said lever about its fulcrum point. Both ends of said lever are provided with upwardly extending projections arranged to be engaged by the plunger 35. For maintaining the lever in sliding position, there is a spring arranged to yleldingly maintain the head 61 out of engagament with the teeth 60.

The operation of the mechanism is substantially the same as above described, excepting for the means for actuating the rod 138. While the tone arm is traveling across the disk, the plunger 35 is latched in its upper position and the projections 22 of the chain 18 embrace the trip lever 32, traveling at the same speed therewith. At the beginning of the movement of the tone arm, the plunger 35 will engage the upper extension of the head 61 and tip the lever 62 so as to elevate the head 6% from engagement with the notch 66. As the tone arm continues in its movement, it draws the sliding collar 63 along the rod 138 until the end of the record is reached when the slowing up of the tone arm and the continuation of the chain will cause the trip lever to be actuated and the plunger to be forced downwardly upon the lever 62 and cause the head 61 to engage in the teeth. The needle will then be elevated from the record, as above described, and the continued movement of the chain will cause the rod 138 to be moved longitudinally through the guide member so as to engage and actuate the brake actuating lever 57 The engagement and actuation of said lever will operate the brake or stop, as above described.

Upon manually returning the tone arm to starting position, the plunger 35 will engage the head 64: and slide the collar 63 back on the rod until the head 64. engages the notch 66. When said head drops into the notch, the plunger 35 will clear it and ride up the inclined surface of the block 42 and be reset as above described. In manually releasing the brake or stop, the lever57 and the rod 138 will be returned to normal posit1on.

It will be understood that a belt or band may be used in the same manner, and for the same purpose as the chain 18 without departing from this invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for arrestin the playing of a phonograph record, including a sound/reproducing medium adapted to engage said record, engaging and stopping means for arresting the movement of said record, an endless traveling member arranged to travel at a speed equal to the movement of said medium, and means on said member for causing the actuation of said stopping means upon a variation of speed between said member and sound reproducing medium.

2. A device for arresting the playing of a phonograph record, including a sound reproducing medium adapted to engage said record, engaging and stopping means for arresting the movement of said record, means for rotating said record, an endless traveling belt driven by said driving means at a speed equal to the movement of said medi um, and means on said belt for causing the actuation of said stopping means upon a variation of speed between said belt and sound reproducing medium.

&

3. A device for arresting the playing of a phonograph record, including a. sound reproducing medium adapted to engage said record, engaging and stopping means for arresting the movement of said record, means for driving said record, an endless traveling belt driven by said driving means at a speed equal to the movement of said medium, and a plurality of projections upon said belt arranged to engage said medium upon a variation of speed between said chain and n. edium for causing the actuation. of said stopping means.

4:. A device for arresting the playing of a phonograph record, including a sound reproducing medium adapted to engage said record, engaging and. stopping means for arresting the movement of said record, means for driving said record, an endless traveling member driven by said driving means at a speed equal to the movement oi said medium, a tripping latch on said medium, and projections mounted upon said member in position to embrace said tripping latch for causing the actuation thereof and the operation of said stopping means upon a variation of speed between said member and sound reproducing medium.

5. A device for arresting the playing of a phonograph record, inchuling a sound reproducing medium adapted to engage said record, means for driving said record, an end less member driven by said means at a speed equal to the movement of said medium, a pivotally mounted. engagii'ig and stopping means for arresting the movement of said record, a latch for maintaining said stopping means in inoperative position, and means on said member foractuating said latch and causing said stopping means to move about its pivot into operative position upon a variation of speed between said member and sound reproducing medium.

6. A device for arresting the playing of a phonograph record, including a sound reproducing medium adapted to engage said record, means for driving said record, an endless traveling member driven by said means at a speed. equal to the movement of said medium, a support for said record and driving means, engaging and stopping means pivotally mounted upon said support in. position to cause the stopping of said. record, a latch member for maintaining said means in inoperative position, means for causing the disengagement of said latch for permitting said stopping means to move to operative position and stop said record, an endless traveling member arranged to travel at a speed equal to the movement of said medium, and means 011 said member for actuating said latching means and causingthe actuation of said stopping means upon a variation of speed between said member and sound reproducing medium.

7. A device for arresting-the playing of a phonograph record, including a sound reproducing medium adapted. to engage said record, means for driving said record, asupport for said record and driving means, engaging and stopping means pivotally mounted upon said support in position to cause the stopping oi. said record, a latch member for maintaining said means in inoperative position, means for causing the disengagement of said latch for permitting said stopping means to move to operative position and stop said record, an endless traveling belt arranged to travel at a speed equal to the movement of said medium, and projections on said belt for actuating said latching means and causing the actuation of said stopping means upon a variation of speed between said belt and sound reproducing medium.

8. A device for arresting the playing of a phonograph record, including a sound reproducing medium adapted to engage said record, engaging and stopping means for arresting the movement of said record, an endless traveling member arranged totravel at a speed equal to the movement of said medium, means on said member for causing the actuation of said stopping means upon a' variation of speed between said member and sound reproducing medium, and an elevatmg lever for elevating said medium from the record operated by said ctuating means simultaneously with said stopping means.

9. A device for arresting the playing of a phonograph record, including a sound reproducing medium adapted to engage said record, engaging and stopping means for arresting the movement oi said record, means for driving said record, an endless traveling member driven by said driving means at a speed equal to the movement of said medium, a tripping latch on said medium, projections mounted upon said member in position to embrace said tripping latch for causing the actuation thereoi and the operation. of said stopping means upon a variation of speed between said member and sound reproducing medium, and an elevating lever for elevating said medium from the record operated by said actuating means simultaneously with said stopping means.

10. A device for arresting the playing of a phonograph record, including a sound reproducing medium adapted to engage said record, means for driving said record, a support for said record and driving means, engaging and stopping means pivotally mounted upon said support in position to cause the stopping of said record, a latch member for maintaining said means in inoperative position, means for causing the disengagement of said latch for permitting said stopping means to move to operative position and stop said record, an endless traveling chain arranged to travel at a speed said medium from the record operated by equal to the movement of said medium, pro

said actuating means simultaneously with jections on sald belt for actuating said latchsaid stopping means. 1

ing means and causing the actuation of said In witness whereof, I have hereunto af- 5 stopping means upon a varlation oi speed fixed my slgnature.

between sald belt and sound reproducing medium, and an elevating lever for elevating GEORGE L. SCHUETZ. 

